Some of the party’s biggest names – Marco Rubio, Nikki Haley, Karl Rove, Haley Barbour and Condoleezza Rice – will deliver personalized briefings, pep talks and fundraising appeals. And no need to hang out with delegates or the media – bundlers who have committed to raising $250,000 or more for Mitt Romney’s campaign also get access to a VIP lounge and treated to special performances by Don Felder, the former lead guitarist for The Eagles, and the Oakridge Boys country band.

The pro-Romney super PAC Restore our Future, the Rove-founded Crossroads groups and the Koch brothers-linked Americans for Prosperity also have their own events feting big donors, with Americans for Prosperity planning a celebration of billionaire industrialist David Koch, one of its founding benefactors.

It’s a fitting celebration of the new big money politics, where a relatively small group of rich backers are providing more cash, mostly through super PACs and 501(c)4 nonprofit groups, than all the grassroots activists combined.

In years past, conventions were a chance to rally the faithful, reward maxed out donors and raise some cash for the national party committees, but that was about it, as the public financing system meant the presidential campaign money race essentially ended at the convention.

Nowadays, there’s more incentive to butter up an emerging class of super donors, who have already given massive sums and will be asked to keep giving clear through Election Day.

“There are more ways for big donors to give more money to help the nominee,” said Matt Schlapp, a former political director for President George W. Bush , who advanced the craft of big donor fundraising with cool nicknames and perks for bundlers.

“In the 2004 general election, our big donors were still important to the extent that we needed them to give to the [Republican National Committee], but we were basically done fundraising by the time the convention rolled around because we accepted public financing,” Schlapp said. “Whereas now, it’s important for the campaigns, the super PACs, the 501(c)4s and the national parties to shepherd the big donors all the way through the elections, because they’re going to be getting asked for big checks right up until Election Day.”

The exclusive and sometimes secretive big donor events in Tampa are being organized by super PACs, Romney’s campaign and even some of the biggest donors, themselves, who, POLITICO has learned, have organized their own series of dinners and panels that are expected to draw big names as well.

The Romney campaign has designated two waterfront hotels — the Westin Tampa Harbour Island and the Marriott Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club — for its bundlers. Those who have committed to raising $250,000 or more – “Stars,” in the campaign’s parlance — get to attend briefings with Jeb Bush, Rice, Haley, Tim Pawlenty, Bob McDonnell and other big names, according to an agenda obtained by POLITICO.